Did the world end today?

Chapter 148 Suicide
What does it mean that "what affects spatial position is not motion but time"?

Sitting in a private cubicle in the command center, Lin Xu held Jiang Xingye's gradually warming hand and asked:
"You mean, as long as we enter the high-dimensional channel at a specific point in time, we can determine our final destination, just like matching a password?"

"No."

Jiang Xingye shook his head and replied:

"I don't know how to explain it. In my mind, the experiments on this property started very early, but progress has been very slow."

"I have information about the experimental conclusions in my mind, but I can't understand that information."

"I can't even express it in professional terms—it's like there's a document hidden in a safe, and now that I've finally opened the safe, I take it out and see that the document is in English."

I don't know if you understand this feeling.

"Understand."

Lin Xu nodded.

"I understand perfectly."

What does it mean to empathize?

This is called empathy.

After all, the technology he brought back from another world was entirely based on rote memorization.

Honestly, it's already quite an achievement to be able to memorize the basic formulas.

When it comes to the theorems and experimental records of quantum physics, it's truly baffling.

Let alone memorizing them, it's not easy to even recognize all the symbols.

I really don't know any foreign languages.
Lin Xu let out a long breath, then asked:

"So if we were to simply and intuitively express the concept of 'time' you're referring to, what would it be?"

Jiang Xingye casually picked up a piece of paper and replied:

"Think in a lower dimension".

"Imagine this piece of paper is a two-dimensional plane, while we are in a three-dimensional space."

"This piece of paper does not move regularly in three-dimensional space; it moves randomly and unpredictably in a weightless environment."

"Now, I have a straw in my hand."

"Snap, I pierced through this piece of paper."

"This straw is a high-dimensional channel, and the scraps of paper that are punctured and scattered in the air are the substances we put into the high-dimensional channel."

"Most of the time, these scraps of paper will fall back to their original positions because the variables brought about by the high-dimensional channel are simply too small."

"Of course, it may also fall to other locations due to irregular movement."

"This is the 'spatial change' brought about by the higher-dimensional channel."

"Therefore, the biggest difficulty in this matter is that the movement of low-dimensional space in high-dimensional space is a huge chaotic system. Even with the help of quantum computers or some CTC machines, it is impossible to completely and accurately predict the spatial landing point of matter."

"Of course, we can't take advantage of it either."

After Jiang Xingye finished speaking, Lin Xu frowned deeply.

"What about Zhou Yue?"

"Zhou Yue is an exception."

Jiang Xingye replied:

"He is a one-in-a-million, one-in-a-billion exceptional case."

“He triggered that ‘specific condition’ the first time he entered the higher-dimensional channel.”

"He did not fall back to his original world, but fell into another world in a timeline that had developed many years into the future."

“From that world, he obtained some kind of information that enabled him to predict, or rather review, the impact of a high-dimensional channel within a finite scale.”

"Therefore, the core issue remains 'time'."

".Understood."

Lin Xu let out a heavy sigh.

This means that in the real world, it is not so simple to actually use high-dimensional channels for "location travel".

The information about Zhou Yue remains unique.
-
Of course, one might also be able to obtain relevant information from the bracelet's world?

That's another story.

Lin Xu subconsciously scratched his head, and seeing Jiang Xingye's still confused expression, he couldn't help but laugh:
"It looks like we both need to find time to take a basic quantum physics course."

"Who says it's not?"

Jiang Xingye shrugged.

"They used to say I had nothing to do, but now I suddenly have something to do."

"You wouldn't believe it, would you? The way to save the world is—to go to college!"

"Doesn't this sound like the setting of some kind of Japanese light novel?"

Lin Xu rolled his eyes.

"Japanese light novels won't send you to school to study quantum physics—even if you did, you'd only learn about Schrödinger's cat, and it wouldn't involve what you need right now."

"Hey."

Jiang Xingye pulled his hand away from Lin Xu's, looked at the beads of sweat on his hand with a slightly puzzled expression, then smiled slyly, grabbed Lin Xu's shoulder, and rubbed it hard on his chest twice.

"I have tissues in my pocket."

Lin Xu stood up speechlessly, and then said:

"Let's go check out the lab."

"Let's see what progress Academician Wang has made—by the way, do you know where those two missing lab technicians are?"

"do not know."

Jiang Xingye looked regretful and disappointed.

She really doesn't know.

Because the process of this experiment was completely different from the one she had "seen".

Lin Xu nodded slightly, and the two continued walking towards the temporary laboratory.

All tests have been completed, and the researchers are busy organizing the data. Even Wang Yifan only gave Lin Xu a brief greeting—he still has a lot of follow-up data processing and analysis work to do.

Zhang Liming, on the other hand, stood aside as if nothing was wrong, looking around as if the experiment had nothing to do with him.

"what's the result?"

Lin Xu stepped forward and asked.

Zhang Liming turned around and, seeing it was Lin Xu, immediately dropped his slightly nonchalant attitude and replied:

"The data analysis results are estimated to be available in two hours, but the NMR test of the new material has been completed, and there is indeed a change in its physical properties."

"Further precise testing will require your continued guidance."

"Overall, it went very smoothly, and all the expected testing objectives were achieved—except for two people being lost."

"Engineer Lin, is it possible to find these two lab technicians?"

Lin Xu slowly shook his head.

"They are very likely still on Earth."

"But where are they? If they've lost the signal, then it'll be really hard to find them."

"clear."

Zhang Liming muttered to himself:

"The boundless light of Lingbao illuminates the veil of the blazing pool."

"Quickly leave the realm of darkness and follow the light to the shore of enlightenment."

Lin Xu realized that he was praying for the dead, so he did not interrupt.

At this point, Wang Yifan had completed the recovery and sealing of all experimental substances and materials.

These materials encompass almost all elemental single crystals on Earth, as well as a small number of composite materials used for special experiments.

Under the influence of high-dimensional channels, these materials are destined to open a new chapter in human research in the field of materials science.

but.
No one knows where the two fearless researchers who disappeared into the vast void have gone.

The signal has disappeared.

Perhaps they are frozen beneath the eternal ice of the polar regions?
Perhaps they have been melted by the magma at the Earth's core?
Perhaps, there will be a day when we meet again. Only, not in this world?

After returning from the laboratory, all personnel who were not assigned to research work were accommodated together in a guesthouse in the city.

The conditions weren't particularly comfortable, but they were absolutely safe.

Lying in bed, Lin Xu raised his hand to look at the bracelet, where the number had returned to "2".

It's time to step into the world of fitness trackers and take a look at the full picture of the so-called "Active Channel Project".

As luck would have it, I ran into Zhang Liming today.

He also had to figure out why such a researcher, who was clearly highly regarded by Wang Yifan, failed to change the overall direction of the synchronous orbit particle accelerator project.

Lin Xu gently touched the bracelet.

Consciousness was drained, and then the body plummeted rapidly.
Good morning, Comrade Lin Xu.

When Lin Xu opened his eyes again, he was back on the Vermilion Bird One spaceship.

He strode toward the bridge command room and, in the most concise language and with the fastest procedures, activated the real butterfly contingency plan.

When he finally entered the bridge command room, Bai Mo had already prepared smart goggles for him.

Lin Xu quickly put on the smart goggles, but this time, he did not follow Jiang Xingye's plan exactly.

Because he already knew that these plans must have flaws.

After thinking for a few seconds, Lin Xu spoke to Bai Mo:

"We need to do three actions in total."

"First, all crew members on Suzaku-1 will board the landing ship and transfer to the Yinghuo Palace space station."

"Second, Zhuque-1 is moving toward the star map coordinates I marked, preparing to enter the higher-dimensional passage. I need to test whether this ship will enter another universe like last time."

"Third, the Skyfire Project has been fully launched, preparing to carry out the doomsday observation mission."

"Execute it now, immediately!"

"clear."

Without the slightest hesitation, Bai Mo turned around and led Lin Xu toward the landing module.

However, Shen Li stayed behind.

Instead of leaving, he got into the driver's seat.

Then he began to speak:
"If Zhuque-1 needs to enter a higher-dimensional passage, I must remain in the cockpit."

"Your goal is to use the quantum communicator carried on Zhuque-1 to obtain information from inside the channel, right?"

"But no one can guarantee that the electronic monitoring equipment on this ship will get the information you need."

"Someone must go in with it."

"You go."

"hurry up."

"Leave the task of observation to me."

".clear!"

Lin Xu did not hesitate.

He knew Shen Li was right.

In fact, this is also his responsibility as captain.

The evacuation order has been issued, and inside Suzaku-1, piercing alarms blared incessantly.

Lin Xu followed Bai Mo into the landing ship. In less than a minute, the landing ship separated from the Vermilion Bird No. 1 and began to fly towards the Yinghuo Palace space station.

Lin Xu didn't exchange many words with Bai Mo. He simply stared at the screen on the smart eyepiece, quickly browsing the project information about the geostationary orbit accelerator "GOHEPA".

His focus was not on the technology, but on the people involved.

However, no matter how he searched, he couldn't find the name "Zhang Liming" on the personnel list.

On the contrary, the name "Wang Yifan" appeared many, many times in the project personnel list.

He held multiple positions, practically taking on the entire project himself.
-
But that doesn't make sense, does it?

Even if knowledge is concentrated in the hands of a very small number of people under the influence of "divine authority," it shouldn't be this concentrated.

Lin Xu frowned slightly, quickly logged out of the system, and connected to the login device's network to search for information about "Zhang Liming" directly on the public internet.

He soon discovered that there was very little information about this person online.

It even got to the point where it couldn't be found at all.

The few reports that exist still date back to 2027.

The report itself was also devoid of any substance: a "job transfer report".

What's going on?

Does this mean that if things proceed as normal, Zhang Liming will fade into obscurity over the next twenty years?

Lin Xu simply couldn't believe such a thing could happen.

Physics research is not like mathematics research. In physics, as long as you have a relatively high starting point and accumulate more experimental experience, the achievements will be greater.

Was Zhang Liming's starting point not high enough?
In this world, he is also the chief scientist of HIRFL in Lanzhou!
What happened to him?
Seeing no valuable information, Lin Xu turned to Bai Mo and asked:
"Do you know Zhang Liming? He was a chief scientist who was transferred to HIRFRL in Lanzhou around 2025. Do you remember him?"

The reason he asked Bai Mo was because he knew that Bai Mo was also in charge of the Reverse Flow Project in this world.

The project against the current is inherently closely related to top scholars.

Bai Mo should be familiar with most scholars; even if they aren't, they should have at least heard of him.

At this moment, Bai Mo was maneuvering the landing craft towards the Yinghuogong space station. After a moment's thought, she answered:

“I remember Zhang Liming.”

"But this person seems to have almost no presence?"

"Has almost no presence?"

Lin Xu was dumbfounded.

Are you kidding me? !

Chief Scientist, head of Lanzhou HIRFL, and Wang Yifan's prized student—why is he so little to no presence in the field?
"you sure??"

Lin Xu's voice carried a hint of doubt. Bai Mo did not answer immediately, but focused on operating the landing ship to dock with the Yinghuogong space station.

When the "docking complete" notification sounded and the hatch opened, she finally spoke:

"The Countercurrent Project was launched in 2026, and Zhang Liming was indeed one of the key figures in the project at that time."

"He has a very unique personality; he is easy-going and good at communication."

“I originally planned to have him as the main force for ‘passing information down’, and he was very enthusiastic at first.”

"But later, for some reason, he became very negative, both when participating in scientific research and when participating in countercurrent projects."

"Gradually, he faded out of the mainstream academic circle."

"Around 2029, he completely disappeared from the public eye."

"I remember he's dead. Do you need to check the census records?"

"check!"

Lin Xu nodded immediately.

The two disembarked from the landing craft and entered the Yinghuogong space station through the airlock.

At this moment, Bai Mo also retrieved Zhang Liming's population information, which, after being summarized by Zhiyun, was transferred to Lin Xu's smart eyepiece.

The message clearly stated a few words.

"Zhang Liming died in September 2029."

Cause of death: suicide.

Lin Xu paused in his steps.

suicide?

why? ?

Twenty years ago, he had told himself that his mindset was quite stable.

Would someone like that commit suicide?

(End of this chapter)